Lower Your Electric Bill This Summer

Summer is here corner, and so are those high electricity bills. While there’s not much you can do about the heat, you can still lower your electric bill this summer. Continue reading for a few easy tips that could reduce your energy use and make a big difference.

Easy, Money Saving Tips:

Turn Your Lights and Devices Off

The simplest tip is to ensure everyone at home turns off the lights and devices when they leave a room. While it’s evident that leaving lights on consumes energy, did you know that devices left on standby still use electricity? Though it may seem insignificant, making it a habit to flip off a light switch or unplug an unused charger can lead to significant savings over time and also help reduce your carbon footprint.

Let the Light In

Installing a skylight or sun light tunnel is one of the most effective ways to reduce electricity consumption while brightening your home. With numerous options available, it’s crucial to choose one that minimises heat gain or loss to avoid potential increases in your electric bill. Solatube tubular skylights, boasting the coveted ENERGY STAR rating, exceed the defined energy performance requirements for various climates.

Solatube tubular skylights have been brightening homes around the world since the 1980s. These devices bring natural sunlight into the darkest parts of your home, reducing the need for electric lighting during the day and leading to a noticeable drop in your electricity bills. They capture sunlight on the roof at different angles, even on cloudy days, and diffuse it indoors. This technology allows for installation in interior rooms and on the ground floor of multi-story homes. Plus, you can install a Solatube tubular skylight in as little as three hours with no structural changes to your home!

Skylight Tip: When considering skylight sizes, a general guideline is to keep them below 5% of the floor area for rooms with numerous windows and under 15% for spaces with fewer windows. Solatube tubular skylights are known for their compact design, making them ideal for small rooms while still providing sufficient daylight for larger spaces.

Switch to LED Bulbs

If you haven’t done so already, replace your old light bulbs with LEDs. They consume up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs, drastically reducing electricity usage and costs. Additionally, LEDs last about 25 times longer than traditional incandescent lighting, which means fewer replacements and lower maintenance costs. The efficiency of LEDs also translates to less heat production, which reduces the load on air conditioning systems and further lowers your energy expenses.

Did you know that you can add LED lighting to your Solatube tubular skylight with the Universal Light Add-On Kit? That’s right! Now, you can efficiently light your home day or night. The optional accessory easily attaches to the inside of the system’s tubing and also prevents unnecessary clutter on your ceiling because it uses the same space.

Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Appliances

Consider replacing your old appliances with newer, energy-efficient models. Appliances like washing machines, dryers and refrigerators are among the highest energy consumers in a home. If your refrigerator is 25 years old and still running strong, it might deserve an award—but not for energy efficiency.

Modern appliances significantly boost energy efficiency thanks to technological advancements. High-efficiency washers weigh laundry loads for precise water use, dryers stop early when clothes are dry and new dishwashers, despite longer cycles, use energy and water more efficiently. Upgrading these appliances can reduce your energy bills and improve home efficiency.

Use Smart Devices

Installing smart devices can significantly enhance home convenience and efficiency. With smartphones or voice commands, we can easily manage everyday tasks, such as turning off lights, appliances, and electronics, even if we forget to. One example many homeowners use is smart thermostats, which optimise heating and cooling by automatically adjusting temperatures when we’re out or sleeping, often reducing energy usage by 15–20%.

Consider Solar

Look for solar-powered alternatives to the devices you currently use. Over time, these options can pay for themselves, leading to significant savings. Additionally, consider installing solar panels on your house. As a homeowner, this allows you to produce your own energy, reducing the amount you need to purchase from your local utility company and further cutting down on energy costs.

If you’re contemplating adding a skylight to your home but dread the idea of a lengthy remodeling process, worry no more. Solatube offers a solution where installation is swift and hassle-free. In fact, a Solatube tubular skylight can be up and running in as little as three hours, requiring no structural alterations to your home. Thanks to the product’s convenient design, the components fit between and around rafters and joists, making for a fast and easy project.

Are you ready to reduce your electricity bills and enjoy a brighter home?

Throughout the whole of Scotland, Solatube Scotland is the recognised distributor and installer of Solatube tubular skylights, or light pipes.

If you are interested in bringing natural light into your home, why not contact us at info@solatubescotland.co.uk ; 07778 283 427 to find out whether a Solatube sun pipe can help you. Typically, a fully installed system might cost anywhere between £900 – £1,400; that’s supplied, professionally installed and includes the VAT.

We service these postal codes and surrounding areas: AB,DD, DG, EH, FK, G, HS, IV, KA, KW, KY, ML, PA, PH, TD, ZE

We service all towns and cities in Scotland, including the surrounding areas: Aberdeen, Ayr, Aviemore, Cumbernauld, Dumfries, Dundee, Dunbar, Edinburgh, Elgin, Eyemouth, Falkirk, Fort William, Galashiels, Glasgow, Greenock, Inverness, Irvine, Kilmarnock, Kirkcaldy, Lanark, Livingston, Moffat, North Berwick, Oban, Paisley, Peebles, Perth, Peterhead, Selkirk, St. Andrews, Stirling